In the absence of an all-India table tennis referees' association, just eight referees were available to officiate in the Mumbai Schools Sports Association
In the absence of an all-India table tennis referees' association, just eight referees were available to officiate in the Mumbai Schools Sports Association (MSSA) table tennis matches held at the University Pavilion in Marine Lines yesterday Suresh Kelkar, the chief referee for the inter-school event, cited the lack of an official body for the dearth of referees. Also, each referee received just Rs 300 for officiating about 40 matches per day. "No one has the guts to take over and run the referees' association after the people at the helm of affairs retired.
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S Y Awate
To conduct any local matches, there should be two umpires per table. But we have had just eight umpires for six tables. And there are more than 200 matches being played on a daily basis," Kelkar fumed.
S Y Awate, 61, a veteran in the profession, who officiated 25-30 matches yesterday, put things in perspective. "After the table tennis body was split in two associations -- Mumbai Suburban District Table Tennis Association and Mumbai City Table Tennis Association -- there has been no referees body. The functioning of both bodies is looked after by former international Kamlesh Mehta," said Awate.
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